Tag Archives: Halong bay floating villages

Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most prized destinations in the country. Since 1994, it has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and has been voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature just last November 11, 2011 in Zurich, Switzerland.

This popular tourist destination is also home of the ancient Vietnamese people living above the water on floating houses. These people have been here for hundreds of years and have been surviving mainly from fishing and aquaculture.

Experiencing bamboo boat to discover local floating village

There are four major floating villages in the area: Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Tau, and Vong Vieng in Hung Thang Commune, Ha Long City. Cua Van is the largest among the four villages, with about 185 households in total. On the other hand, Vong Vieng is the less crowded and less touristy one.

Both villages can be visited by tourists by joining any major Ha Long Bay Cruises in the area. Each cruise will give its guests some opportunities to visit these villages either by rowing boats or by kayaking. Tourists who are visiting the villages will have a bigger picture of how the people live and survive in such small and secluded communities. Some may even have a chance to participate in village events and celebrations depending on the season.

Paying a visit to the floating fishing villages is definitely one of the Ha Long Bay Tours that everybody should do once they get the opportunity. It will help not only the villagers who live in the area, but also the preservation and protection of Ha Long Bay and its surroundings.